As an Amazon Associate, I might earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you.
RELATED READING: Dog Grooming Tips For Beginners – Professional Dog Grooming Tools
This article is the fourth in our series of Dog Grooming Tips For Beginners and this time I will provide you with information about a selection of essential pet hair care products which are frequently used by dog grooming professionals.
These days, cosmetics are incredibly important for personal grooming, and that doesn’t stop at just you, the pet owner. There is now a wide selection of products available for your pets.
Our pets and other animals are beautiful just as they are.
They don’t require make-up or hair colour to make them look unique. They’re attractive already!
However, when at the groomers, their coats will need gentle hair care products which will improve the sheen of the coat and protect their skin. Some of these products will also make styling easier.
Shampoos were the only product available for pets until not so long ago. Either all-purpose general shampoos or anti-parasitic shampoos were available. Skincare was not taken into consideration, and the product to fight parasites caused many problems due to its low quality.
Today, there are different types of shampoo available: that for hydration, volumising, special ones for puppies, or even dry shampoo.
VIP! Regarding anti-parasitic shampoos, I recommend you only use ones containing natural pyrethrins (natural insecticides). Others have a poisonous impact for both the animal, the environment, as well as yourself.
Vitalising Shampoos
Give excellent sheen and volume to the coat because they usually contain vitamins such as Panthenol (provitamin B5), Biotin and Retinol. Besides, they clean and remove all dirty hair and skin while preserving and improving the condition of each strand.
Hydrating Shampoos
Repair coats which have not been cared for very well, due to various reasons and this shampoo will rehydrate the hair. An excellent hydrating shampoo shouldn’t leave the hair greasy. However, some cheaper products do, so buying a quality hydrating shampoo, even if it’s a bit more expensive, should always be the wiser choice.
Conditioners
In addition to the action carried out by hydrating shampoos, conditioners continue the repair work, repairing broken hairs, improving colour and texture. The final result is a smooth and shiny finish without feeling oily to the touch.
Colour Intensifiers
They do exactly as the name suggests. Excellent for white coats as they minimise any yellow patches and add intensity to greys and blacks. More for use by professional groomers, rather than at home because the application of the product is quite technical. They are not used for washing, nor are they to be applied directly onto the hair, plus other instructions.
Dry Shampoos
A Godsend if you’re in a hurry. Dry shampoos clean exceptionally well and can be used on any coloured coat. Excellent for cats who won’t go near water too. Easy to use. You simply apply the shampoo all over the body following the given instructions, and there is no need to rinse afterwards. All dirt and bad smells will disappear. Easy!
Flash
Flash is a conditioner, shiner, antistatic, all in one produced by Artero. It leaves the hair dry, not wet, especially beneficial after spending a few hours with the hairdryer on. Makes brushing easier and can be used every day. Won’t leave the hair greasy either.
Perfume
Professional groomers spray perfume at the moment of returning the pet to its owner. It shows a touch of good taste and professionalism. It goes without saying that the specially-made fragrance should be balanced in equal parts with alcohol and hydrating properties, depending on the type of coat. It’s no good applying perfume to a coat if it will dehydrate the hair and make it dull.
RELATED READING: Dog Grooming Tips For Beginners – Dog Grooming Techniques
Because I’m worth it!
The final result after using some or all of these products is a perfectly shiny or smooth coat with all the style of “Because I’m worth it!” as your pet sees you again when you collect them after their appointment. There are many more products out there on the market. Many help to conquer problems such as sensitive or allergic skin reactions, dehydration of the hair, loss of shine or texture etc.
Dog Grooming Tips For Beginners – Pet Hair Care Products
Needless to say, you cannot use human hair products on a pet as the human skin pH balance is different from that of our furbabies.
Thank you for reading. Please read, like, comment and share with your friends and family.
Great article. Our son regularly took his golden retriever to the groomers and only bathed him at home when necessary because ‘Charlie’ found the mud.Charlie was so proud of his coat when he came home from the groomers. He know he looked good. OUr daughters’ dog has a habit of runins with skunks. What do you suggest for him to get the smell out? He is A black lab/husky cross.
Hello,
This is a fantastic post. I always love to take care of my doggie (he is sometimes not so happy, to be honest), but your post make me more motivated to keep doing:). Shampoons are the best, as per my opinion and I have several of those. Based on your article I probably start using another cosmetic so the care is more complex, you are right about that.
Thank you for this post again and wish you all the best!
Bye Renata
Interesting! I like the dry shampoo option, for those colder days. I have to bathe my dogs outside, because my house isn’t built yet and I still live in a trailer, so I always bathe them when the weather is warm. In winter time, I have to plan their bathing times more carefully 😉 I live in the semi-desert,so winters don’t get as cold as up north, but the wind can still be chilly in the mornings or late afternoon.
When I pick my maltipoo up from the groomer, she always smells so good, it’s probably the perfume that you mention. I have seen some pet care products at the local store. I like the ones you shared here, I don’t think I can buy those locally, so I may have to shop online as well 🙂
Thank you very much for this article.
My uncle has a new dog and we have been checking what products to use. I didnt know that dogs had to have shampoo and thanx for letting me know of the bad ones.
These animals depicted don’t look like they are having fun… do you have any tips to relax the pet more while getting a shampoo? How often do you shampoo dogs? thanks for your post
Hi Deb. Charlie sounds like he’s quite the character haha. Regarding keeping company with skunks, thank you for the question. I haven’t experienced this with my dogs so your question is an opportunity for me to learn something new. From what I can gather, the first thing your daughter needs to do is set up a bath outside in the garden, anywhere not inside the house as you don’t want the smell entering the house. A number of sites advise bathing with a solution of 1 quart of 3% hydrogen peroxide solution (found at any pharmacy or supermarket), 1/4 cup of baking soda and 1 teaspoon of liquid dishwashing soap. I did note that this solution must be used straight away and never stored in a container as it can explode if stored. So wash your dog straight away. Plus always check their eyes because the skunk spray can cause irritation there. Rinse eyes out with cool water. Also, there are products available especially to remove skunk spray. As prevention, it’s advised to not let dogs out at night as skunks are nocturnal creatures. If you must, it’s a good idea to leave an external light on to stop skunks coming in. Hope this helps.
Thank you Renata for your comments. Do you mean your dog isn’t happy in general or just with bathing? If in general, it is wise to take him to the vet for a check-up as there may be an underlying issue affecting his mood.
Oooh how interesting. Where you live sounds like quite the adventure! I like it! Your “maltipoo” sounds very cute too. I hope you’ll be able to find what you need for hygiene during the winter months. The dry shampoos are definitely an asset.
Pleasure Thabo. Yes, dogs (any pet really) must be kept clean in order to maintain their good health and wellbeing. You and your uncle may find this post interesting reading too.
Hello Brian. That’s quite true. Unless you get a pet used to a bath session early on in their puppy/kitten-hood, it might sometimes be a stressful situation for them. With practice though, an owner can learn how to routinely bathe their pet fairly quickly and the time spent together is good for bonding too. Unfortunately, not keeping your pet clean will affect their health so a few minutes under the shower is better. Generally, it is recommended to bathe a dog once every 3 months, however, this can all depend on the breed of dog, the type of coat they have or if they have any skin conditions which need regularly taking care of. It’s always best to consult with your vet or professional dog groomer for individual cases.